My internet is slower than promised: what can I do in the UK?
Most providers have signed Ofcom's voluntary Broadband Speeds Code of Practice. They must give you a minimum guaranteed download speed before you sign. If your speed stays below it and isn't fixed within 30 calendar days, you may be able to leave without penalty.
Your contract states the speeds your provider promises. If the real speed falls clearly and repeatedly below them, you may be able to pay less or end the contract. A measurement with the official tool, where there is one, is the strongest proof.
📜 The rules in the UK
What you can do
Report the slow speed to your provider. If it can't raise your download speed above the guaranteed minimum within 30 calendar days of your report, you can end the contract without penalty.
The details
- For cable and full-fibre services, the minimum guaranteed download speed must be at least half of the advertised speed. (ofcom.org.uk)
- The right to leave applies when your download speed is below the guaranteed minimum on at least three successive days after you report the problem, and it isn't fixed within 30 calendar days. (ofcom.org.uk)
- You don't need a speed test to report a problem. If you do give your provider test results, it must treat them as a serious and credible sign of a speed problem. (ofcom.org.uk)
- 'Without penalty' means no early termination fee, and a pro-rata refund of anything you paid upfront, such as advance line rental. (ofcom.org.uk)
Ofcom
The UK communications regulator. It sets and enforces the rules for phone and broadband providers. It can't investigate or resolve individual complaints, but reporting faults and problems to it helps it act on wider issues.
Official speed test official
Ofcom broadband and mobile checker
It shows the fastest speeds the network operators predict for an address; it does not test your own line, and actual availability and speeds may differ.
🪜 Step by step
- Find the promised speedsYour contract summary lists the speeds, often as a maximum, a normally available and a minimum speed.
- Measure properlyUse a cable instead of Wi‑Fi, close other devices and measure several times on different days, with the official tool if there is one.
- Report it to the providerSend the results, ask for the problem to be fixed and keep a copy of everything you send and receive.
- Use your rightsIf nothing improves, ask for a lower price or to end the contract, and go to the dispute body if the provider refuses.
📇 Who to contact
Sponsor this page → One labelled block, €100 a month. Founding price €75 until 31 January 2027.
❓ Questions
Does a quick speed test in an app count?
It helps you spot a problem. As proof, a measurement made the way the regulator or your contract describes carries much more weight.
Does this apply to mobile internet too?
Mobile speeds change with place and network load, and the rules for mobile are often different. See the rules for the UK on this page.
Is slow Wi‑Fi the provider’s fault?
Not always. Walls, distance and old devices slow Wi‑Fi down. Measure with a cable first.
📎 Sources
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